◆ SpookStack

On or about March 1, 1967, Wolff took office as Governor - ~ % ; Agnew's appointee as the Chairman-Director of the State Roads Commission. Governor Agnes had Wolff monitor every consulting engineering and con~ struction contract that came through the State. It became obvious to Wolff that, inl|view of the provisions of State Roads Commission legislation, he. would in effect control the selection of engineers and architects for contracts to be awarded by the State Roads Commission, subject only to the siteatedectetboemating authority of Governor Agnew. Shortly after Wolff took office, Governor Agnew asked Hammerman to come to his/ office in Annapolis, Maryland. At this meeting, Governor Agnew advised fianmerman that there was in Maryland a long-standing "system," as he called it, under which engineers made substantial "cash contributions" in return for State contracts awarded through the State Roads Commission. Governor Agnew referred to the substantial political financial demands that would be)made on both himself and Hammerman, and said, in effect, that those who were benefitting (the engineers) should do their share. Governor Agnew said that Harmerman could help him by collecting cash payments from| the engineers, and told him to meet with Wolff to set things | Up. . Hanmerman subsequently met with Wolff and told him of the dis- cussion he had had with Governor Agnew. Wolff readily agreed to participate, and suggested that the payments be equally divided among the Governor, Hammerman, and Wolff. Hammerman then met again with the Governor and told him of the suggested division of the payments. Governor Agnew at first replied that he did not see why Wolff should receive any share of the money, but he agreed to a division as long as he received 50% of the total payments. He told Hammerman that he didn't care what Hammerman did with his share. ,Hammerman went back to Wolff and told him that Mr. Agnew insisted on 50% of} the money and that Hammerman and Wolff should equally divide the rest between themselves. Wolff agreed. t